meta plan

Chapter 6 Getting to Know the Southern World
Chapter 6 Getting to Know the Southern World

On this day, compared with the plant samples collected by Hoddle, researcher Elsa Clemens collected plants, mainly insects of the order Lepidoptera.

Researcher Woolley Meek and Professor Walton Thomas are more interested in other reptile insects in grassland ecology, as well as some relatively large mammals.

Their sampling area was far away from the docking position of the shuttle boat, and they didn't come back until it was dark. From a distance, they could see that the soldiers guarding them carried many unconscious animals on their shoulders.

Hoddle found that they were all strange-looking hares, jerboas, wild foxes, wild goats, and some creatures he couldn't name. There were more than a dozen of them, not including the number of samples in the sample boxes they brought back. .

Researcher Woolley Meek enthusiastically introduced what he had learned today to the doctors: "Dr. Gein, this southern world is simply a virgin land of undiscovered natural treasures. The mammal class system here is completely different from that in the north!"

"Look at these grasshoppers, spiders, and scorpions. Their appearance has mutated, and their size is twice the size of similar creatures in the north!"

"There are also these creatures similar to hares. Compared with ordinary rabbits in the north, they have long slit teeth, and the phenomenon of atavism is very obvious; similarly, there are also wild foxes. Apart from the difference in appearance, their actions are also particularly flexible, and their agility is beyond the norm. !"

"The food chain here is obviously different from that in the north. When this hare was caught, it was hunting insectivorous birds!"

"In addition, the reaction speed of these mammals and their resistance to sedatives have greatly exceeded expectations. The sedatives that could stun an elephant in the north can only stun a wild goat here. If it weren't for the large amount , this harvest is definitely not as much as it is now!"

"Dr. Gein, I apply to stay for another five days to continue researching the ecological food chain here, which is very important to the overall ecological understanding of the south!"

Researcher Woolley Meek's words were supported by a dozen other scientists present.

Seeing so many samples harvested, scientists who specialize in the study of animals, plants, geography, geology, genetics, and virology are gearing up and eager to try.

Before the doctor could speak, Colonel Phyllis, who had already listened impatiently, said, "No way! If we keep procrastinating, when will we find the ether spar?"

Researcher Woolley Meek was puzzled: "Isn't our trip here to gain an in-depth understanding of the southern world? Even if we will discover intelligent creatures or other ecosystems later, the grassland ecosystem is the foundation, so it doesn't hurt to spend a little more time!"

In fact, the real information of the Yuan Project did not inform the scientists sent by the three major countries, but only declared to them that the Federation gathered top scientists from various countries to open the north-south channel, and then study the environment and biology in the south.

Dr. Gein knew that as the orbit of Planet Alpha got closer and closer, the science centers of the other three major countries outside the Federation would sooner or later discover anomalies.

Only now, in order not to cause panic among the people in the north, the Federal Military Department blocked the news, hoping to solve the Alpha planet problem before the news leaked.

Colonel Phyllis gritted his teeth. These scientists are all very aggressive. He can neither disclose the real information of the Yuan project nor let these people delay the progress.

"Isn't it more important for your research to speed up the process and discover intelligent creatures?"

In terms of scientific research, his words have little effect.Colonel Phyllis had nowhere to vent his anger, so he could only put pressure on the well-informed Dr. Gein:
"Dr. Gein, we can't bear the responsibility for delaying the Federation's mission to find the ether spar!"

The doctor thought about it, and if he directly refused, it would make these scientists suspicious, so he said: "At most two days, we must move forward and uncover the core secret topic of the red magnetic field, which is our main purpose!"

Colonel Phyllis had a reluctance on his face, and wanted to say something, but he remembered something, so he held back and didn't attack!
Although it was not as expected, it was worth it to give them two more days to study the ecology of the grassland.

In the next two days, scientists in other fields also conducted research on grassland ecology.

It can be determined that this grassland belongs to the tropical grassland climate, with high temperature and little rain throughout the year. According to the forecast, there will be no rainfall within a month.

Researcher Elsa, an ecologist, analyzed the cell structure of plants of different grades in the grassland, and found that the plant fiber cell walls of all plants have that unknown interstitial substance.

After she extracted the interstitium, she compared it with soil samples from the area where the plants grew, and found that there was no such substance in the soil.

Where did these stromas come from?Converted from air?

In order to confirm this guess, she placed the collected live samples in an isolation room similar to the northern ecological environment and cultivated them to observe the shape of the plants.

Surprisingly, the southern plants survived in the air in the northern environment, and the growth rate of the plants increased three times within a day!
But soon the leaves showed signs of withering, and microscopically found that the stock of the unknown interstitium was rapidly losing. It seems that this special interstitium is an important element to maintain the growth of southern plants.

Elemental analyzers show that this element does not exist in the north, and the molecular layer structure is similar to but different from the toxic substances in the air in the south.

In addition, Hoddle also found by collecting blood samples that there is a strange crystalline substance in the bodies of animals in the south. The larger the animal, the more crystal grains of this substance.

Part of the crystalline substance is extracted, and after testing, this crystalline substance is very hard.

In living organisms, did they not destroy their life circulatory system? !

Based on the huge difference in the ecological environment between the north and the south, Hoddle guessed that this crystalline material is the key factor for these animals and plants to thrive under a hundred times the gravity environment?

So what does this have to do with the red magnetic field and the ether spar?
Hoddle told the teacher the truth about these findings, and the doctor did not comment on these anomalies, but instead said:
"Hodell, the topic of your doctoral dissertation, choose a direction to study in the southern ecological circle, and after determining the direction, submit an outline report to me."

Hoddle did not reply right away. He once wanted to be like a teacher and become a scholar who leads the frontier development of science and technology.

However, the teacher said that if the development of cutting-edge technology does not progress together with morality and ethics, a hero is equal to a sinner.

Hoddle understands that the teacher does not want him to become another Dr. Gein. The cutting-edge technology developed by the teacher has triggered a struggle among many forces, and even the teacher's wife has been implicated in it.

Because of his admiration for Dr. Gein, Hoddle stood out from the competition of thousands of students and became the doctor's assistant, hoping to become a hero of the Federation just like his teacher.

But now, maybe he should find his own direction.

Two days later, although Researcher Woolley Meek and Professor Walton Thomas were reluctant to part with this, the 13 shuttle boats of the Federal Scientific Expeditionary Team continued to launch and went deep into the hinterland of the grassland.

After another four days of flying, they found the location of the water source from the detector of the reconnaissance plane.

Historically, as long as there is water, there will be a complex biosphere, including intelligent biological civilization.

This time, under the application of all scientists, the expedition of the scientific research fleet was suspended.

Whether it is plants, animals, ecology, historians, or metaclassologists, they all attach great importance to the ecology of the water source, because this may be their first opportunity to contact intelligent life in the south!
And Colonel Phyllis, who personally said that studying intelligent creatures is convenient for these scientists, shot himself in the foot with a stone, and had nowhere to vent his anger.

Near the water source area of ​​the grassland is a landform similar to a depression. After entering this place, they found flying birds and other relatively large creatures.

It can be found from the footprints left behind near the water source that there will be many large mammals nearby!

Researcher Woolley Meek and Professor Walton Thomas looked very excited, and they followed the branch of the water upstream upstream.

"Professor Thomas, the footprints around the depression just now resembled the footprints of bison, but some footprints overlapped and were covered by other tracks. What kind of creature do you think can cover such a large area of ​​tracks?"

Professor Thomas thought for a while: "The footprints that covered the traces of other creatures just now are at least ten meters high, and the proportions of the feet and limbs are normal. This kind of giant creature seems to be an extinct creature that appeared in the history of the north."

Professor Thomas and Researcher Woolley Meek, two scientists who are congenial and often discuss ideas, are also discussing their field issues like no one else.

Other scientists who went on foot found that where the limit of sight meets the horizon, there are shadow groups of low mountains.The appearance of mountains also means that the probability of other species appearing is very high!

Long before the scientific expedition legion set off, according to metataxology and biologists' speculation, there was a high probability of intelligent beings in the south, and their appearance and limbs should not be much different from those in the north.

However, due to the limited data, they cannot make accurate predictions for the degree of their technological and cultural development.

And since the opening of the north-south channel, they have truly understood the vastness of the entire Yuanxing and the strangeness of the southern world. This fascinating place is waiting for them to explore.

"Dr. Gein, Colonel, the reconnaissance plane shows a giant biome ahead, do you want to move on?"

The scout captain Rayleigh's words caught the attention of the scientists present.

Dr. Gein: "Sharing reconnaissance aircraft images."

After the images were shared, the scientists discovered that the shadow of the low mountain in the distance was actually a giant creature in the south? !

After seeing the figure of the giant beast, Professor Thomas exclaimed: "It's actually a star rhinoceros?! A star rhinoceros with such a large body has never been heard before!"

Others could clearly see the herd of giant creatures, which looked similar to the star rhinos in the north, but were at least ten times larger in size than the rhinos in the north!Scattered in groups on the grassland, like distant mountains!

Professor Thomas was very excited: "Dr. Gein, the front must be one of the birthplaces of water sources, otherwise there would not be so many star rhinos! I must study it closely!"

After speaking, he immediately called his assistant Charles to follow, and he was about to trot over!

Colonel Phyllis took a step across, blocking the pace of Professor Thomas; "Such a dangerous herd of giant beasts, do you want to die?"

Professor Thomas couldn't wait to explain: "The star rhinoceros is a mild-tempered animal. As long as we don't take the initiative to attack them, we won't encounter any danger!"

In the field of biology, Professor Walton Thomas is an authority on the study of the star rhinoceros, and other scientists have not raised any objections to this.

Professor Thomas skirted the impatient Colonel Phyllis' crowd and ran straight ahead.

For this group of dead-headed people, Colonel Phyllis insisted on letting the Type A reconnaissance plane take the lead, quickly collect the genetic information of these animal samples, and leave this place of right and wrong.

Accompanied by the scientific expedition team, the small and flexible A-type reconnaissance aircraft is much more efficient than collecting animal and plant samples manually.

The doctor did not deny Colonel Phyllis' proposal this time. After all, the A-type reconnaissance plane can collect samples such as animal hair and blood and perform gene sequencing without disturbing the target. It is a routine and efficient method for unmanned ecological monitoring in the north. .

So the doctor and others led fifty defense troops to advance towards the star rhino group. Such a large water source area shows that they are not far from the settlement of intelligent civilization in the south.

The first contact between the northern and southern civilizations is not far away!

(End of this chapter)